Empey ‘steps up’ funding for Higher Education programme

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has announced an increase in funding for a programme aimed at widening participation in Higher Education.

Speaking at a ceremony at the University of Ulster to celebrate the latest success of pupils on the Step-Up programme, the Minister announced additional funding of over £340,000 for the initiative, which aims to improve the aspirations, expectations and academic performance of students who otherwise may not have considered going to university.

Addressing students, parents, academics and industry representatives, the Minister congratulated all those who successfully completed the programme. Sir Reg said: “The Step-Up programme has been hugely successful in raising the motivation, aspirations and performance of students in a wide range of key science-based subjects. The programme has opened doors to a wide range of degrees and career pathways for past pupils in fields such as Biomedical Science, Pharmacy and Marine Biology.”

Step-Up is an internationally acclaimed science-based programme of academic and vocational activities, jointly delivered by schools, the University of Ulster, industry and government. To date almost 700 students from secondary schools in the north-west and Belfast areas have successfully completed the programme and progressed to higher education institutions across the UK.

The Minister continued: “I am delighted, in the current economic climate, that I am able to announce that an extension of funding for Step-Up has just been approved. This will extend funding up to academic year 2013/14 and ensures that the excellent work carried out under this programme will continue.”

Today’s graduates are the third cohort to successfully complete the programme following its expansion to Belfast in 2006. This expansion followed the success of the original programme at the university’s Magee campus. The students in the original programme at Magee achieved a 97% pass rate, with 90% of students achieving A, B or C grades in their applied science A-Levels.

Notes to editors:

1. Pupils from Ashfield Boy's and Girl’s High Schools, Belfast Girl’s Model and Boy’s Model Schools, Christian Brothers Secondary School, Corpus Christi College, Orangefield High School, St Joseph’s College, St Rose’s and St Patrick’s College participated in the Step-Up programme.
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